Karwar: Eight members of a family drowned after being swept away by strong currents while collecting clam shells in the Thattehakkal river in Karnataka’s Bhatkal taluk on Sunday, police said.
The victims were among 14 family members who had gone to the river in the morning when the water level reportedly rose suddenly, triggering the tragedy.
According to officials, four people were rescued, while search operations were continuing for two others who remain missing.
Police said the victims were residents of Padushirali-Sharadahole in Shirali village near Bhatkal. The deceased included one man and seven women.
The deceased have been identified as Lakshmi Annappa Nayak (44), Mastamma Manjunath Nayak (43), Lakshmi Shivarama Nayak (39), Umesh Manjunath Nayak (42), Lakshmi Madeva Nayak (38), Malathi Jattappa Nayak (38), Lakshmi Nayak and Jyoti Nayak (37).
Local police and rescue teams rushed to the spot soon after receiving information about the incident and launched a search operation for the missing persons.
Preliminary reports suggest that the family members were caught off guard after the river current intensified suddenly while they were in the water collecting clam shells.
